I live in EARLSTON,Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders, the region the south east corner of Scotland, between Edinburgh (35 miles north) and the border with England (25 miles south). People often forget about the Borders as they whizz through heading for Edinburgh and the Highlands, but It is an rural area full of history and heritage and country pursuits and a great place for my little granddaughter to grow up in.

Leader Water at Earlston

The village, (population 1978) lies in the valley of the Leader Water, known as Lauderdale

﻿The early settlement was known as Ercildoune from Arcioldun or Prospect
Fort, with reference to the Black Hill at 1003 feet on which can be traced
signs of an ancient British fort. A local poet wrote write:

"On the Black Hills’ lofty summit I stand this morn and gaze
On a scene so full of splendour and brave deeds of bygone days
So rich in nature’s glory – woodland, hills and rivers grand,
With a veil of glamour o’er it, the dear old Borderland"

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A wintry scene from the Black Hill - February 2013

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Earlston is best known for medieval poet and prophet Thomas Learmonth, called Thomas
of Ercildoune, Thomas the Rhymer, or True Thomas. He said to have had supernatural powers that rivalled those of Merlin. He is said to have gained his powers, after falling asleep under the Eildon Tree whilst hunting. He met and kissed the Queen of Fairyland,and spent seven years as her guest in the Land of the Elves before returning to Ercildoune for seven years, then disappearing for good.

The
Statistical Account of Scotland of 1791 commented:

”There are at present 670 males and 681 females…….there are between 40-50
weaver looms, mostly employed weaving linen.We have only one woollen manufacturer.

There are four mills in the parish which manufacture a considerable amount of
grain……………The most common crops in the parish are oats, barley and peas…………

Horses are absolutely necessary in this part of the country, for it is by them
that farmers labour their farms and drive their corn to market. They never work
with oxen now as they used to.”

One great disadvantage under which this parish labours is the want of
fuel.The common people burn turf and
peat.Coal is usually from the
neighbourhood of Dalkeith, a carriage of about 25 miles, which necessarily
makes the price so high that the poor cannot purchase it.

The people are in general healthy;many of them survive to old age.The most common diseases are ague, rheumatism and scrophula.The frequency of the last is probably due to
intermarriages.Consumptive complaints
are more common”.
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Old Bridge at Earlston, built 1737.

Cowdensknowes Wood, Earlston, May 2012

Pipe Band leading the Fancy Dress Parade at Earlston Civic Week - July 2012

I cannot omit EDINBURGH in this listing under E, as it was my home for ten years, where I finished school, went to university, began my working life, enjoyed its historical and cultural activities and met my husband.

A more unusual view of Edinburgh Castle,

looking north across the Firth of Forth to the hills of Fife.Taken from the roof of the Blackford Hill Observatory.

PLACE NAMES THAT APPEAL - Ecclesin Lancashire. as it reminds me of the delicious Eccles Cakes my mother made - a small flaky pastry pie filled with currants, candied peel. nutmeg, butter and demerera sugar. Yummy! Also Ecclefechanin south west Scotland, which has a grand ring to it - just try saying it!

About Me

I have been interested in family history for years. It all began when I was allowed as a child to look through the old family photographs and memorabilia kept in a shoebox in the cupboard at my grandfather's house. That treat started me on a fascinating ancestral trail.